What hi lift Jack for a 5th Gen

barry581

New member
I was able to get a Delaware Surf Fishing Tag this year and plan on spending a lot of time on the beach. One of the requirements is a jack and a board for it in your vehicle. I was looking at the hi lift type jacks, but can't figure our where you'd us on the 4Runner, since the bumpers as all plastic.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.
 
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Nowhere.

You would need to have rock sliders and/or steel bumpers to be able to use a hi-lift on a 4Runner. For your purpose, you're better off getting a hydraulic bottle jack and an off-road base for it.

A hi-lift is pretty much useless on a stock 4Runner.

Edit: here's a great video describing some different jacks and their uses.
Highlift jack vs Bottle jack vs Exhaust jack - YouTube
 
I have a 48" on my roof

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Get a good bottle jack and platform for it. hi-lift wont work on a 4Runner, but they are cool.

I would also recommend getting a set of Maxtrax.
 
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Hi-Lift makes an attachment where you can grab through one of your wheels. Great for anything except changing a tire!
 
4Runner comes with a bottle jack in the cargo area side compartment on the left. I think that will cover what you need for the permit requirement to go on the beach. That, plus a shovel and a board to put under the jack will be enough to change a tire if you need to on the beach.

High lift on the OEM 4R probably only really works in the receiver hitch hole. Or you could put a piece of 2" square tube in there and then lift against that. There are also some hitch stingers specifically for the high lift. I have a wheel lift strap set. It probably works, but it's not very functional for the OEM wheels. And it won't really help you change a tire. Might help you get unstuck. You could also add a front receiver hitch to use on the front. They're pretty inexpensive. But you would also need a extension because they don't stick out far enough to use the jack directly in the hitch hole.

I don't think there's any reason you'll need a 60" height high lift. A 48" should be fine. The taller high lifts are mostly needed for taller vehicles with long travel suspension. On a rock crawler with a 30" bumper height and 20" of suspension travel you'll get to the top of the jack and still not be off the ground. Not really an issue on the 4Runner unless you're going really crazy with mods.
 
4Runner comes with a bottle jack in the cargo area side compartment on the left. I think that will cover what you need for the permit requirement to go on the beach. That, plus a shovel and a board to put under the jack will be enough to change a tire if you need to on the beach.

High lift on the OEM 4R probably only really works in the receiver hitch hole. Or you could put a piece of 2" square tube in there and then lift against that. There are also some hitch stingers specifically for the high lift. I have a wheel lift strap set. It probably works, but it's not very functional for the OEM wheels. And it won't really help you change a tire. Might help you get unstuck. You could also add a front receiver hitch to use on the front. They're pretty inexpensive. But you would also need a extension because they don't stick out far enough to use the jack directly in the hitch hole.

I don't think there's any reason you'll need a 60" height high lift. A 48" should be fine. The taller high lifts are mostly needed for taller vehicles with long travel suspension. On a rock crawler with a 30" bumper height and 20" of suspension travel you'll get to the top of the jack and still not be off the ground. Not really an issue on the 4Runner unless you're going really crazy with mods.

My 50+ years of driving in the sand on Bodie, Hatteras, Ocracoke Islands says that sometimes you need to support the opposite side of the vehicle to keep it from sinking down in soft sand when raising the flat side. I carry a 2nd bottle Jack and board for this reason.

I use the OEM bottle to support opposite side and a bottle that extends longer than the OEM to raise the flat side.
 
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Another good thing to have is a tow strap with no metal on it. They can break and metal becomes a missile that can endanger people as well a vehicles.
 
My 50+ years of driving in the sand on Bodie, Hatteras, Ocracoke Islands says that sometimes you need to support the opposite side of the vehicle to keep it from sinking down in soft sand when raising the flat side. I carry a 2nd bottle Jack and board for this reason.

I use the OEM bottle to support opposite side and a bottle that extends longer than the OEM to raise the flat side.

A second jack is not a bad idea for the beach. I haven't ever needed more than the high lift and a board or rock under it if it's sinking in too much, but my 4R has armor all around so I can lift from anywhere. I almost never have flats anymore. Tires are so much better than they once were. I'm more worried now about getting stuck in soft areas. Having a winch if I get too buried is a nice get out of jail free tool, but the tow strap is also a must have IMO.

I have some traction boards. I've never used them. So I can't really opine much on the value of having them. I can imagine a scenario where they might be useful. My only real use for them is leveling out the vehicle for camping.

My other suggestion is to have a case of beer. In some places it's sort of like the unofficial offer if you put a case of beer on the hood of your stuck vehicle in the sand - pull me out and you get a case of beer. Not sure if that's common generally, but I like the idea.
 
Most folks that get stuck in the sand haven't aired down enough. IMO a high lift is over kill for the beach w a 4Runner. Plus they're big, heavy and dangerous if you don't know WTF you're doing. We regularly wheel a 5ton camper on the beach w a trailer and even in the soft sand going over the dune exits haven't gotten stuck. Like others have said we keep two bottle jacks....one stock and the other a Safe Jack w off road base and all the fancy extensions. In the last 20 years I've gotten 2 flats...both from popping a bead w low pressure and was able to swap tires w the stock jack and a board. Now I also keep a ratchet strap so I can reset the bead w the tire on the truck.

Looking forward to spring surf fishing!
 
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